[Sports Seoul | Munhak=Reporter Lee So-young] I don’t deserve to eat.
Kim Beom-su, 31, left the mound with his head down after giving up 3 runs without recording an out in his first appearance for KIA. Manager Lee Beom-ho, 45, defended the veteran, saying he was likely nervous trying to impress his new club.
KIA, which entered the season hoping to rebound, stumbled immediately. The losses were one thing — the way they unfolded was worse. In the opener the bullpen collapsed and the team blew a 5-run lead, dropping the game on a walk-off. In the second game, the pitching staff, starter included, cratered and KIA fell 6–11.
Kim, who had spent his career with Hanwha since 2015, is a veteran of 482 top-level appearances with a 27–47 record, 72 holds, 5 saves and a 5.21 ERA. Last season he appeared in 73 games, posted a 2.25 ERA with 2 wins, 6 holds and 2 saves, and helped Hanwha reach the Korean Series. He signed a free-agent deal with KIA in the offseason.
One outing doesn’t tell the whole story, but the debut fell short of expectations. In the opener against SSG, Kim was charged with 3 runs (2 earned) on 2 hits without recording an out. That’s an unwelcome sight for KIA after last year’s bullpen struggles — especially considering starter James Nail had delivered 6 shutout innings that day.
Kim entered the top of the seventh with KIA leading 5–0. He walked leadoff hitter Kim Jae-hwan and yielded a center-field single to Ko Myung-jun. A mound visit by the coaches failed to stop the momentum. Kim then allowed a right-field single to Choi Ji-hoon, putting the club in a bases-loaded, no-out situation.
Reliever Seong Young-tak couldn’t put out the fire, and the runners Kim left aboard all scored, charging him with 3 runs. KIA then gave up 4 more runs — including from closer Jung Hae-young and internal free agent Cho Sang-woo — and surrendered a 7–6 lead in a comeback loss.
Rather than criticize, the manager offered support. \”It was his first game after coming in as a free agent,\” Lee said. \”It was the season opener and he was brought in during an important spot. I ran into him and pitching coach Son Seung-rak in the sauna, and he told me, ‘I don’t deserve to eat.’ I don’t know why he was that nervous — he’s not a rookie.\”
Lee added, \”Changing teams brings change. He probably felt a big desire to perform well, which can increase nerves. I believe he’ll settle in and perform well going forward.\”
The skipper also reaffirmed his faith in the bullpen. \”I think their fundamentals are solid,\” Lee said. \”I believe our middle relievers have to do their jobs for the team to get results. Right now, they just seem to be overthinking things.\” sshong@sportsseoul.com
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